Traditional Temari crafting
in Japan is supported & promoted by the Japan
Temari Association. The JTA (literal translation from the
Romanji is "Japan Temari of Group/Society") maintains its main
office in Tokyo, including the JTA Temari Museum. The offices and
museum also house a Temari library, supplies shop, and museum shop
(to purchase finished temari). The temari on display are rotated
monthly, and comprise many works of students and teachers of the
Association. Successful applicants for Shihan/Teacher and
Kyoujyu/Professor (levels 3 and 4) will have the temari that they
submitted for judging become property of the JTA, to be used in
both the rotating temari displays (as well as mobile exhibitions)
and also offered for sale in the museum shop (to help support the
overall mission of the JTA as well as generate operating capital).

Membership in the JTA is
open to anyone wishing to join, with the membership year running
April 1 - March 31, following the traditional Japanese
fiscal/academic calendar. As of 2014 there are about 1200 members
of the Association. Additional information can be found on the membership and certification page.

The JTA publishes an informational brochure
that carries the basic history of the organization and history of
Temari:

About
Temari: While an ancient Japanese Temari is said to be
originating from Kemari (kickball type game) and originally coming
from China and made from deer hide during the Asuka period, Temari
(hand ball) called Onna Mari were used by women in the royal court
castle to show off and compete with their kagari (stitching
skills) to gain the attention and favor of their favorite princes.
The temari used to be made with kakagari (using silk threads)
among the upper class, but when cotton threads became readily
available in modern times, regular/common people began making them
using cotton thread. Temari made in this way spread to many areas
of Japan and each area established its own recognizable style.
Temari is a traditional, highly artistic culture and skill in that
each design shows the unique characteristics of the maker's free
ideas and creativity.

About
Nihon Temari no Kai Establishment: In 1968, "Temari
Junikagatsu" (Temari Twelve Months) was published by
President Emeritus Chiyoko Ozaki (known to us now as Ozaki-Sensei
I). It was greatly accepted by many people who loved Temari from
all over Japan. Popularity grew so much that in 1979, Nihon
Temari no Kai was established in Tokyo. Since then more
than 20 books in which traditional Temari making techniques and
designs from many areas of Japan, as well as newer, more modern
designed Temari have been published, with new works continuing.
Japanese Temari became so popular among people in countries
outside of Japan that Nihon Temari no Kai has been holding
instructional classes as well as traveling exhibitions in many
places around the world each year.

Purpose/Mission
of Nihon Temari no Kai: To continue and carry on the
traditional Temari craft, promote its artistic quality, and foster
successors to the traditions of the craft. In addition, to deepen
understanding among members, foster international exchange, and
support the Japanese culture.

Activities
of Nihon Temari no Kai: Temari Gallery (rotating
monthly exhibits), Lectures, Teaching, Social gatherings, Cultural
exchanges and volunteer works, Certification of Skills, Publishing
of Newsletter & Books, and other works necessary for the goal
of preserving and promoting traditional temari.

Guide
to the Museum: The gallery of ancient & modern
traditional crafted Japanese Temari is offered; visitors are
welcomed. Every month the exhibition of displayed Temari is
changed. Located at: 1-15-12 Seta, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo 158-0095,
the Museum is open from 10am to 5pm with the last visitors
admitted into entrance at 4:30pm. The Museum is closed on
Tuesdays, the last day of every month, for End of Year/New Year
from December 28 to January 3, and for Obon from August 12 to
August 18. JTA members are admitted free of charge with
presentation of their membership card; for all others there is a
300 yen (approximately $3.00US) admission fee.

With
thanks to the JTA

Experience from several that
have visited the JTA suggests that you have your hotel or host
call the JTA to be sure that it's open as scheduled. The best way
to secure transit is to have the hotel clerk or your host write
the address on paper to give to a taxi driver. The JTA is actually
in a residential section of Tokyo, so plan accordingly. At present
there is no one at the JTA that speaks or writes English, so if
you don't speak Japanese or have a Japanese person with you, be
aware of this need.

(Please don't be
confused by the names. TemariKai.com was named through the
suggestion of a Japanese friend, since "kai" translates into
"gathering, group, world..", in 1999, several years before we knew
of the JTA Romanji. The overlapping is coincidental and does not
imply a formal association, regardless of my membership in the JTA
since 2005).